How to Be an Innovation Powerhouse

Posted on February 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Eighteen months after Doug Hall founded Brain Brew Custom Whiskey, the Cincinnati distiller took two of eight Double Gold Medals at the North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition. He is also a lecturer, best-selling author, tv and radio host, and a chemical engineer by education. He was Master Marketing Inventor at Procter & Gamble – shipping a record nine products in 12 months. For his pioneering work turning innovation from an art into a science Hall was awarded a Doctor of Laws from the University of Prince Edward Island and a Doctor of Engineering from the University of Maine. He works with two of the top three spirits companies, developing new products.

In this interview, you’ll find out his process for rapid innovation that builds business.  You’ll learn why hedge funds hire him to develop new beverage products they don’t bring to market.  This is one of the best interviews we’ve done in some time.

Here are some of the Benjamin Franklin-like gems you’ll hear:

* Great products are meaningfully unique.
* You have to be product first, marketing second. You have to have a better product.
* You have to have a culture that is proactive. When you see a problem, fix it.
* The more you know, the smarter you get.
* Wood is the magic that brings out the flavor.

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DISCUS Targets Tax Disparity Between Spirts and Malt-Based RtDs

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. will seek to change tax laws that result in spirits-based ready-to-drink products paying up to 18 times as much tax as malt-based RtDs, Chris Swonger, president/CEO, said during DISCUS’s annual economic briefing.

State tourism boards are recognizing that when people visit their state they are looking for things to do.  So craft distillers are benefitting from tighter links to state tourism programs.

Philip McDaniel, CEO/co–founder, St. Augustine Distillery and chair of the DISCUS Craft Advisory Counci said DISCUS will also seek parity with wine and beer when it comes to states  permitting direct-to-consumer shipping.

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Illegal Wine Shipments Halved in Michigan

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Some 71,529 bottles of wine were illegally shipped into Michigan from out-of-state retailers from January-March of 2021, Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers said.  That’s less than half the160,000 bottles shipped illegally in 2020.

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Miss. House Passes Bill to Privatize Wine, Spirits Distsribution

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

The measure, which removes the Mississippi Department of Revenue from controlling the alcohol warehouse, passed 112-2.  It now goes to the state Senate.

So, who would benefit from the bill?  “It would remove the legal prohibitions that currently exist and would allow businesses to invest millions in capital and create hundreds of jobs across our state,” State Rep. Trey Lamar (R) told Y’all Politics in January. “Of importance, the package retail and restaurant industry would not be changed by this legislation except that they would make purchases through private companies instead of through the state government.”

Translation: Probably Southern Glaszer’s Wine & Spirits, Breakthru Beverage, and Republic National Distributing Co.  A review of the last two years reports of campaign contributions filed with the Mississippi Department of States does not show Lamar received any campaign contributions from SGWS, Breakthru or RNDC.

 

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Covid Claims Another Victim: WSWA Cancels 2022 Convention

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America “understands the important role this annual event has played for wholesalers, suppliers, retailers, and other vendors within the industry for more than 75 years, the association said.

But, “as evidenced by the ongoing rocky large-scale event recovery, and as felt by other large trade associations, WSWA, with input from board members and industry partners, decided that hosting a large event where tastings and meeting in-person are paramount was not for the best in the Spring of 2022,” Michelle Korsmo, WSWA president/CEO, said.

Looking toward 2023, WSWA said it has completely reimagined the 2,800-person event. The 2023 experience will showcase supplier growth, provide media asset creation, encourage deal-making and networking, as well as deliver experiential learning and wholesaler thought leadership.  Chris Underwood, WSWA chairman, said: “Our industry is built on relationships and the convention has always been a great conduit for building lifelong ones. WSWA’s new convention format will certainly enhance this experience for all, for decades to come.”

“The WSWA Board weighed heavily in this new direction, and this is the right move for the industry. I am positive that the convention and trade show event we launch in 2023 will once again be the epicenter for beverage alcohol for years to come,” said Tom Cole, current Vice Chairman, and Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors for RNDC. “WSWA’s convention has and will always be the strongest platform to foster the acceleration of all three-tiers of the industry as we continue to make the U.S. alcohol marketplace the best in the world.”

The 2023 WSWA convention will be April 3-6 in Orlando, Fla.

 

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Ghost Tequila Expands to 50 States, Bolsters Marketing, Sales

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Ghost Tequila completed its national rollout, entering Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and the Dakotas.  It’s now available in all 50 states.

The company has also recently appointed new director-level roles to execute on the company’s accelerated  growth strategy: 

  • Sandra Calvert, a former sales executive at Diageo, Phillips Distilling, VEEV Spirits, Lucas Bols, and  Pomp and Whimsy, joins the company in the new role of National Accounts Director. 
  • • John McDonnell III joins Ghost in the new role of Brand Director, responsible for U.S. domestic  programming and international sales. Prior to Ghost, McDonnell worked for Horizon Beverage in  Massachusetts, and was a portfolio director at Caribbean distributor WEBB Banks. 
  • Tara Moreland who formerly worked for Bonavita Beverage, Asombroso Tequila, Leblon Cachaca,  Partida Tequila, and Copalli Rum, is the company’s new California-based West Coast Sales Director. 
  • Matt Polisei, Ghost’s new Control States Director, previously worked for Southern Glazer’s Wine &  Spirits and Republic National Distributing Company, and also led sales for BeatBox Beverages and for  Our/Detroit Vodka (Pernod Ricard).  

“After doubling our volume in 2020 – in a year that witnessed tremendous challenges on-premise – I’m  enormously proud of our continued success in 2021,” when the brand grew more than 200%,  “a true testament to the hard work and commitment from  across our organization,” says Chris Moran, Ghost Tequila’s Founder/CEO, a former bartender in Boston  who created the brand after recognizing the demand for a high-quality 100% agave spicy tequila that would help  make spicy cocktails more consistent and easy to mix. “And now, just a few years since we first introduced the  brand, we’re excited that consumers and bartenders in every state in the U.S. will be able to find and enjoy  Ghost Tequila locally.” 

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